Ukrainian drone manufacturer Ukrspecsystems is expanding operations into the United Kingdom, launching a new military drone production factory and training site. The company, which produces eight types of drones for military and civilian use, said production at the UK site will start in 2026.
Norwich Evening News reports that the company will build an 11,000 m² factory in Mildenhall, a small town in eastern England, part of the Suffolk county, along with a testing and training center in Elmsett about 70 km away, creating hundreds of jobs and apprenticeships. The total investment will reach £200 million (approximately $250 million) over the next three years.
According to Ukrspecsystems, the drones will not only be built and tested in Britain, but operators will also be trained in tactics rooted in Ukraine’s battlefield experience.
“Ukrspecsystems is proud to be the first Ukrainian company to commit to a funded plan to invest in infrastructure, jobs and skills in the UK,” said Rory Chamberlain, the UK managing director for Ukrspecsystems. “Our factory at Mildenhall and flight test and training facility at Elmsett are testament to this commitment.”
Targeting laid-off workers from the UK’s collapsing auto industry
The plant’s opening comes as 550 workers at the Lotus sports car plant in Hethel, also in eastern England, face redundancy. Ukrspecsystems has expressed interest in hiring from this experienced engineering pool, and local authorities have welcomed the opportunity to redirect skilled workers into defense technology roles.
The support package includes help with job placement, financial and mental health support, and small business assistance. Job seekers will be connected with engineering vacancies, including those at the new drone plant, and offered free retraining courses. Pop-up outreach vehicles will be deployed to the Lotus site and a space reserved at the Hethel Engineering Centre.
Ukrspecsystems drones are not only of interest to the UK. In April 2025, a Shark reconnaissance drone produced by the company was spotted during testing in the Czech Republic, suggesting broader European cooperation and growing demand for Ukrainian-developed battlefield technologies.